Bumpin’ beats and tasty treats are enticing visitors to come to Old Town Lansing. This year marks the second annual Old Town Block Party in Lansing.
The party comes with all the favors of live music, food vendors and sidewalk sales.
Other forms of entertainment include a belly-dancing troupe, jugglers, and palm and tarot card readers.
Monica Kwasnik, neighborhood planner for Local Initiatives Support Corp. and AmeriCorps, said anyone and everyone is encouraged to attend.
“We didn’t have a huge turnout last year, but I hope this will only get bigger,” she said. “This is a good chance for small businesses and more prominent ones to show how Lansing is growing and get people familiar with the area.”
There is no admission to attend the party, or listen to the live music.
The party starts Thursday and will be held every Thursday until Aug. 1., except July 4. Festivities run from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the 1200 block of Turner Street, between Grand River Avenue and Clinton Street.
Old Town will be closed to traffic for the event.
Funding for the various activities is provided by an in-house annual budget of $90,000 and the block party is sponsored by Elderly Instruments, 1100 N. Washington in Lansing, WLNZ (89.7-FM), and Sound EFX, 134 W. Michigan Ave. in Jackson.
Musical acts will be belting out jazz, bluegrass and blues at the corner of Turner and Clinton streets.
Sir Pizza Grand Cafe, 201 E. Grand River Ave., will be selling 8-inch pepperoni pizzas, and other Old Town restaurants will offer food on Turner Street.
Events such as the block party give students around the area something fun to do.
“The block party is a great way to interact with people in the community,” education senior Christina Alves said. “I don’t have a car, but I am sure my friends would like to go,” the 21-year-old said.
“It gives us something else to do besides slammin’ 40s.”
In addition to the outside fun, local businesses in the area are encouraged to stay open during festivities.
Innovations By Thomas J, 226 E. Grand River, won’t have a stand outside but the store will be open to who ever wants to come in. Innovations By Thomas J sells steel garden products and furniture featuring Kokopellis, or whimsical characters from ancient rock carvings.
“This is our first year participating in the party,” Innovations manager Tom Donall said. “The city needs to do something like this to try and bring people to Old Town.”
So why is Old Town so important?
Old Town is home to the largest collection of mid-19th century Victorian commercial buildings in the capital city, bringing people from around the state for commercial and tourist purposes.
There are various cultural events thriving in Old Town. The Creole Gallery, 1218 Turner St., holds monthly shows, performances and poetry readings and the Otherwise Gallery, 1207 Turner St., showcases ‘adventuresome’ art by young artists.
Old Town is home to may bars and night clubs such as Spiral Video Dance Bar, 1247 Center St., and The Temple, 500 Grand River Ave., that attracts many residents and students.
In an effort to keep Old Town hopping, the Old Town Commercial Association, or OTCA, invented a program called Old Town Main Street.
The four-year program was designed to preserve Lansing’s historic structures and strengthen the area economically through activities such as the Old Town Block Parties and the Festival of the Sun.
Shirl Skinner, owner of Shirl’s Boutique, 1214 Turner Road, said this will be her second year participating in the block party and her third year as the store’s owner.
“I sell little things outside of the store, like jewelry,” Skinner said.
“It is a positive thing for the little business when we have such festivities.”
